PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ikkyu Sojun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uoi Ishida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Ikkyu Sojun has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Ikkyu Sojun seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Sojun
vs
Ishida

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ikkyu Sojun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Uoi Ishida!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ishida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sojun paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As Ishida looks to move away, Sojun throws a big counter combo but Ishida just gets out of the way.
Ishida looks to clinch

and Sojun counters with a shoot takedown. Ishida fights it but they end up in guard.
Sojun trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sojun stays in close to Ishida's body and controls the position.
Ishida is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ishida is still trying to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sojun sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sojun has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sojun looking to pass the guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Sojun preventing the sweep.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ishida closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ishida misses with a punch on the inside.
Ishida can't break the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ishida creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Sojun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Sojun pushes Ishida up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sojun has Ishida pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sojun pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Ishida tumbling to the mat - Sojun dives into Ishida's guard.
Sojun stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ishida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sojun is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ishida trying to keep a closed guard but Sojun is proving a slippery customer.
Sojun postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sojun looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ishida looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sojun puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ishida is trying to stand.
Sojun trying to mount his opponent but Ishida defends it.
Sojun seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Sojun changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ishida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
A lull in the action here as Sojun stalls from top position.
Sojun tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Sojun stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Ishida looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikkyu Sojun dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ishida misses with a double jab

and Sojun counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ishida won't be happy with that.
Sojun scores with a couple of short elbows.
You can see the frustration on Ishida's face as Sojun controls the position.
Ishida tries to improve position but can't.

Sojun thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Sojun is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ishida is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sojun cracks Ishida with a big right hand but Ishida just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishida is looking to reverse the position.
Ishida struggling a bit here.
Ishida takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ishida seems a little lost for a moment, as Sojun dominates the positioning.
Sojun advances nicely into full mount.
Ishida is breathing heavily.
Sojun lands with some strikes.
Sojun is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ishida can do to turn this around?
Sojun sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sojun lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Sojun goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ishida is on top in guard.
Sojun pulls Ishida in close to prevent any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ishida accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ishida got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sojun has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ishida has managed to get both his arms back between Sojun's legs - danger averted.
Ishida throws an elbow that misses. Sojun uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ishida's guard. Nice move by Sojun!

Sojun content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sojun wants to pass the guard but Ishida is keeping the position.
Sojun is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sojun wants to pass the guard but Ishida is keeping the position.

Sojun decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ishida, up you get!
Ishida tries to clinch

and Sojun counters with a shoot takedown. Ishida fights it but they end up in guard.

Ishida has his feet on Sojun's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sojun closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ikkyu Sojun dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ishida misses with a double jab.

Sojun feints and as Ishida raises his hands in defense, Sojun changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Sojun works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sojun takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Sojun is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sojun passes to full mount!
Ishida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sojun is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Sojun fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sojun darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Sojun content to control rather than advance.
Sojun's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ishida is in trouble now - Sojun has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sojun takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ishida tries to improve his position but instead Sojun has taken his back!
Sojun controlling the position well here. Ishida rolled but Sojun kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Sojun seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ishida for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sojun is working the ground and pound. Can Ishida escape?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Ishida defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Sojun's arms.
Ishida trying to control the hands but Sojun breaks the grip.
Sojun keeps control of the position easily here as Ishida tries to buck him off.

Sojun looking for the choke from the back.
Uoi Ishida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ikkyu Sojun is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
What can Ishida do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ikkyu Sojun showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sojun, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ikkyu Sojun!